It may have been a roller coaster game filled with miscues, but the dramatic conclusion kept 2,205 fans at the CN Centre on the edge of their seats to the last second.
For the first time this season, the Prince George Cougars won after they pulled their goaltender for an extra attacker in the final minute of regulation time.
The Cougars leading scorer, Vladislav Mikhalchuk, tallied with just 16.3 seconds left in the third to tie the game at 3, and the Cats escaped with a 4-3 victory over the Kelowna Rockets.
Late in 3-on-3 overtime, Josh Maser took a pass from Jackson Leppard to score the winner with just six seconds remaining.
The 19-year-old Maser added two assists for a total of 11-points (5G, 6A) in his last 10-games.
Mikhalchuk has racked up nine-points (3G, 6A) in his last seven-games to give him 15 points (four goals) in 20 games on the season.
Kelowna led 1-0 after one (on an Erik Gardiner goal) and Prince George enjoyed a 2-1 lead after two.
After the Rockets evened the game 2-2 in the first minute of the third on a goal from Lane Zablocki, Kelowna took the lead on a shorthanded tally by its leading scorer Kyle Topping, with just under eight minutes left.
Topping took advantage of a Taylor Gauthier turnover and lapse in judgement, as the Cougars netminder mishandled the puck behind his net that directly led to the Rockets third goal of the game.
#WHLThreeStars ⭐⭐⭐
Wednesday, November 14, 2018 pic.twitter.com/BQYaa2csRI— The WHL (@TheWHL) November 15, 2018
Cole Moberg and Matéj Toman also tallied for Cougars, who moved into second place in the BC Division, a point ahead of Victoria, although the Royals have four games in hand.
The 8-12-1 Rockets are four points back of Prince George and 4-2-1 since Adam Foote took over as head coach.
The 9-8-1-2 Cougars continue a five-game homestand when they entertain the (6-9-1-1) Kamloops Blazers Saturday night at 7 and Sunday afternoon at 2.
The Blazers are last in the Western Conference, three points behind Kelowna and seven back of PG.
SCORING:
COUGARS – Josh Maser (1G, 2A), Cole Moberg (1G, 1A), Vladislav Mikhalchuk (1G), Matéj Toman (1G), Josh Curtis (1A), Joel Lakusta (1A), Jackson Leppard (1A), Rhett Rhinehart (1A)
ROCKETS – Kyle Topping (1G, 1A), Erik Gardiner (1G), Lane Zablocki (1G), Nolan Foote (1A), Liam Kindree (1A), Leif Mattson (1A)
GOALTENDING:
COUGARS – Taylor Gauthier (Win) 28/31
ROCKETS – Roman Basran (Loss) 29/33
POWER-PLAY:
COUGARS – 1/4 (P.G. has nine power play goals in its last eight games)
ROCKETS – 0/3
WATCH:
Highlights: Look back the Cougars come from behind win Wednesday. | #NorthernUprising
? https://t.co/7mLUoW4gW2 pic.twitter.com/ccBAoYhFTr
— PG Cougars (@PGCougars) November 15, 2018
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